Shawn Mendes releases brand new single Heart Of Gold and reveals the heartbreaking meaning behind it – days after singer disclosed the ‘truth’ about his sexuality

Shawn Mendes released his brand new single Heart Of Gold on Friday and revealed the heartbreaking meaning behind it.

The 26-year-old singer – who recently revealed the ‘truth’ behind his sexuality – unveiled the latest track from his upcoming self-titled LP ‘Shawn’ and shared what it was like as a tribute to his late childhood friend.

In addition to honoring his beloved friend with the song, Shawn opened up about his struggles with his grief, while also dedicating it to those who “lost someone” close to them.

In a statement accompanying the single, Shawn explained: “Grief is very, very hard to deal with and a big part of what has helped me is celebrating that person.

‘I would like to dedicate this song to everyone who has lost someone, someone who has passed away or someone who is still alive, in any way. This is for them.’

The 26-year-old singer – who recently revealed the ‘truth’ behind his sexuality – unveiled the latest track from his upcoming self-titled LP ‘Shawn’ and shared what it was like paying tribute to his late childhood friend

The lyrics to the emotional song’s chorus read: “You had a heart of gold/You left too soon/It was out of your control/Under your skin and bones/You had a heart of gold.”

Earlier this month, Shawn dedicated the then-unreleased album to the late Liam Payne, following his tragic death at the age of 31 on October 16.

Speaking onstage at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York just two days after Liam’s death, Shawn said: “He was a beautiful soul and his eyes were shining. It was beauty shining through his eyes.

“It’s about mourning with tears those we miss, and it’s also about celebrating them and who they were and what they left behind in this world.

“I just want to take a moment to send him so much love wherever he is. Liam, we love you. The world weeps for you, brother, and we all pray for your son and your family. I miss you.’

As he then performed the heartfelt song, he added: “This one’s for you tonight, Liam, from all of us.”

It comes after Shawn opened up speculation surrounding his sexuality during his show at Red Rocks Amphitheater.

The Canadian hitmaker addressed the audience during an intimate moment of his For Friends and Family Tour show and spoke about the “truth” about his love life.

In addition to honoring his beloved friend with the song, Shawn opened up about his struggles with his grief, while also dedicating it to those who “lost someone” close to them.

In a statement accompanying the single, Shawn explained: “Grief is very, very difficult to deal with and a big part of what has helped me is celebrating that person.”

‘I would like to dedicate this song to everyone who has lost someone, someone who has passed away or someone who is still alive, in any way. This is for them’

The lyrics of the emotional song’s chorus read: “You had a heart of gold/You left too soon/It was out of your control/Beneath your skin and bones/You had a heart of gold.”

Earlier this month, Shawn dedicated the then-unreleased album to the late Liam Payne, following his tragic death at the age of 31 on October 16.

“There’s something about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it for so long,” he added, saying it was “kind of stupid, because I think sexuality is so beautifully complex, and it’s so hard to express it.” to put into boxes. .’

“The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, I’m figuring it out just like everyone else.”

‘It always felt like an infringement on something very personal to me. Something I was figuring out within myself, something I had yet to discover and still need to discover.’

‘And it feels very scary because we live in a society that has a lot to say about that. And I try to be very brave and allow myself to be human and feel things. And that’s all I want to say about that for now.’

He previously addressed speculation about his sexuality in 2018 Rolling stone interview.

It comes just days after Shawn opened up about speculation surrounding his sexuality during his show at Red Rocks Amphitheater [pictured in September 

‘The real truth about my life and my sexuality is that, man, I’m just figuring it out like everyone,’ he told the audience 

‘There’s this thing about my sexuality, and people have been talking about it so long,’ he added, saying it was ‘kind of silly, because I think sexuality is such a beautifully complex thing, and it’s so hard to just put into boxes’

‘I thought, “You f*****g guys are so lucky I’m not actually gay and terrified of coming out,’ he said at the time.

‘That’s something that kills people. That’s how sensitive it is. Do you like the songs? Do you like me? Who cares if I’m gay?’

He also spoke about feeling the pressure to be seen out with women in order to prove he was ‘not gay.’

‘In the back of my heart, I feel like I need to go be seen with someone — like a girl — in public, to prove to people that I’m not gay. Even though in my heart I know that it’s not a bad thing. There’s still a piece of me that thinks that. And I hate that side of me.’

In 2019, Shawn said whispers about his sexuality were ‘hurtful’ in an interview with The Guardian.

The superstar addressed ongoing rumors about his sexuality once more in 2020, on the Dax Shepard podcast.

‘It was so, so frustrating for me because there were some people in my life that I was very very close to, who were gay and in the closet,’ he shared.

‘And I felt like this real anger for those people. It’s such a tricky thing. You want to say, “I’m not gay but it’d be fine if I was gay — but also there’s nothing wrong with being gay but I’m not.” You don’t really know how to respond to the situation.’

He previously spoke about feeling the pressure to be seen out with women in order to prove he was ‘not gay’; seen in 2024

Although he has been the object of wild speculation about his sexuality, Shawn has only ever publicly dated women, such as fellow singer Camila Cabello; they are seen in 2021

Shawn and Camila went public as a couple over the summer of 2019 and broke up in 2021, then briefly reunited last year only to break up after six weeks; seen in 2019

‘Everyone’s been calling me gay since I was 15 years old. I’m not gay and I’m like, “What does that mean?” I had these problems with the way my voice sounded. I’m like, “How do I sit?” I’m always first to cross my legs and sit with a position of this feminine style and I really suffered with that s**t.’

He also flatly denied that he was gay in a Snapchat message to his fans in 2016, while urging them to concentrate on his work.

‘So I don’t usually do this and bring up problems, but I was on YouTube just watching some of my interviews, and I was going down the comments and noticed a lot of people were saying that I gave them a “gay vibe,”‘ he said.

‘First of all, I’m not gay. Second of all, it shouldn’t make a difference if I was or if I wasn’t. The focus should be on the music and not my sexuality.’

Although he has been the object of wild speculation about his sexuality, Shawn has only ever publicly dated women, such as fellow singer Camila.